Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMove-In Guide
Cambridge, Massachusetts
🏫 Private UniversityEst. 1861🔗 www.mit.edu
MIT's Cambridge campus is anchored by the iconic Great Dome atop Building 10, with all first-year students required to live in dormitories since 2002, most commonly Maseeh Hall, MIT's largest dorm, or Baker House, designed by famed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
Enrollment
4,535
Total Students
Freshman Class
1,134
Approx.
Move-In Dates
Aug 29, 2026
Fall 2026
Acceptance Rate
5%
Most recent cycle
Move-In
Fall 2026 Move-In Details
Professional movers are on campus to assist first-year students during scheduled move-in times. Parking spaces in front of Random Hall along Massachusetts Avenue serve as a temporary loading zone - parallel park briefly, then move to designated parking once unloaded. REX (Residence Exploration) begins the same day as move-in, giving you a chance to explore MIT's different residential communities before settling in - FYRE (First-Year Residence Exchange) lets you request a building swap afterward if you'd prefer a different community.
Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.
Move-in day logistics
- Arrival window
- Regular Class of 2030 students arrive Saturday, August 29; residence hall front desk staff are available 8am-midnight, though arriving between 8am-4pm is encouraged. Professional movers assist first-year students during scheduled move-in hours.
- Check-in location
- Proceed directly to your assigned residence hall and check in with housing staff (using your Mobile MIT ID barcode from the MIT Atlas app) - then separately proceed to Orientation Check-In in Building 3, room 108 ("the DEN").
- Parking
- Free temporary parking during Welcome Week is available at several campus lots (Westgate, Amherst Street, Massachusetts Avenue, Albany Street, and the Albany Street Garage); notify attendants of your temporary move-in status. Overnight parking is prohibited, and designated loading zones (Amherst Alley, Vassar Street, East Campus, Random Hall) require vehicles to vacate within 30 minutes.
- What you'll receive
- Your MIT ID at Orientation Check-In, plus your room key at your residence hall's front desk.
- Vehicle restrictions
- Moving trucks cannot use Storrow Drive or Memorial Drive due to low bridge clearance. Vehicles in loading zones must vacate within 30 minutes and cannot be left unattended; storage pod placement requires pre-registration with MIT Parking.
Move-in day tips
- Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
- Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
- Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
- Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.
Housing & Dorms
- Photo coming soon
Maseeh Hall
Traditional · Coed
- Photo coming soon
Baker House
Traditional · Coed
Housing Links
Each available link goes directly to Massachusetts Institute of Technology's own specific page, not just its general homepage.
Orientation
Orientation & REX (required)
All new students are required to attend one orientation session.
August 29 - September 2, 2026
Orientation tips
- Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
- Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
- Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.
Costs
Room & Board
$19,800
Estimated / Year
Nearby Essentials
- CVS Pharmacy0.9 miles
- Target1.1 miles
- Walgreens1.7 miles
- Wegmans3.2 miles
More Links
Checklists
Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist
A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Share
Send this page to a roommate, a parent, or anyone else helping plan the move.